![]() |
|
Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces Please use this forum to discuss the German Luftwaffe and the Air Forces of its Allies. |
![]() |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
||||
|
||||
Bf 109 massacre of 24 March 1945 (359th FG)
On 24 March 1945 a flight of Mustangs of the 369th FS of the 359th FG bounced fifteen Bf 109s that were setting up a landing pattern over Eiklon airfield. In the one-sided battle, thirteen of the 109s were shot down with the other two being damaged.
The victories were awarded to: Capt. Collins William F 2 1st Lt. Kelly Dale E 1.5 1st Lt. Lancaster Robert T 2 2nd Lt. Mcgehee Fred S 2 Maj. Parsons James W 1 1st Lt. Tenenbaum Harold 1.5 1st Lt. Thomson Bryce H 1 Capt. Thomson Robert C 2 Does anybody have any information of the Luftwaffe unit involved in this slaughter? Also I didn't manage to find any information on the airfield mentioned.
__________________
Please visit my aviation art gallery @ www.aviationart.aero or view my work on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/aviationart.aero |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Bf 109 massacre of 24 March 1945 (359th FG)
Hello
These 13 kills are not mentioned in the Luftwaffe loss lists (Gen.Qu.6 Abt.) These A/C are listed for that day 24.03.1945 III./J.G.11 Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-10 WNr. 491475 24.03.1945 III./J.G.11 Messerschmitt Bf 109 K-4 WNr. 33231 24.03.1945 IV./J.G.5 Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-14 WNr. 770228 24.03.1945 IV./J.G.5 Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-14 WNr. 781202 24.03.1945 I./J.G.52 Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-14 WNr. 465753 24.03.1945 III./J.G.52 Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-10 WNr. 613078 24.03.1945 III./J.G.52 Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-14 WNr. 465314 24.03.1945 2./N.A.Gr.2 Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-10 WNr. 770246 24.03.1945 2./N.A.Gr.2 Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 WNr. 19996 Source: www.ahs.no/ and own Gen.Qu.6 Abt lists Best Olve Dybvig |
#3
|
||||
|
||||
Re: Bf 109 massacre of 24 March 1945 (359th FG)
Hmm odd...
Books of the 359th FG by Jack H. Smith show a gun camera still from Lt. Kelly. It is difficult to tell, but the aircraft appears to be a Bf 109 G-10 (smooth gun fairings + fixed tail wheel + wooden tailfin). It has a dark coloured spinner and either no or a bright coloured RVT band. The aircraft number appears to be white. Camouflage is most likely green-grey (or two-tone grey but definitely contains RLM 75). One of the Mustangs involved was damaged by a 20mm round. Interestingly some of the pilots note that the crosses on the wings appeared to be shaped so they resemble a circle from a distance (on the guncam still they're standard white crosses on wing tops and fuselage). In any case, thanks for looking ![]()
__________________
Please visit my aviation art gallery @ www.aviationart.aero or view my work on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/aviationart.aero |
#4
|
||||
|
||||
Re: Bf 109 massacre of 24 March 1945 (359th FG)
Could it have been a training group with losses being put in another category?
|
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Bf 109 massacre of 24 March 1945 (359th FG)
Also lost that day were 4 K-4s from JG 27 and 2 G-10s from JG 300.
|
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Bf 109 massacre of 24 March 1945 (359th FG)
I would say this is I./JG 27. They reported losses in combat near Störmede Airfield. Losses were reported as 4 KIA. Eyewitnesses reported the loss of 6 Bf 109 so we can assume 2 pilots bailed out. Just west of Störmede airfield lies the small village of Eikeloh.....
regards, John |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Bf 109 massacre of 24 March 1945 (359th FG)
Quote:
Yes, I have them listed as 2 from 1 Staffel and 2 from 2 Staffel, although I have 1 pilot listed as MIA rather than KIA. Perhaps he was later confirmed as KIA? Skyraider: Do you have a reference like an encounter report for this action? John |
#8
|
||||
|
||||
Re: Bf 109 massacre of 24 March 1945 (359th FG)
Quote:
Do you happen to have any exact info on the losses, such as type, WerkeNr, markings and pilots involved? I have tried to decypher the blur on the guncam shot and it appears to both me and my wife as a white 4. Quote:
![]() It's interesting you have the losses listed a K-4's. The guncam still shows a clear tailwheel. Flaps are down and the 359th pilots reported the 109s as being in a landing pattern, so it's possible the gear was down. However judging from the background, I estimate the aircraft was flying at at least 5000 ft. Many thanks guys!
__________________
Please visit my aviation art gallery @ www.aviationart.aero or view my work on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/aviationart.aero |
#9
|
||||
|
||||
Re: Bf 109 massacre of 24 March 1945 (359th FG)
Since I keep referring to the guncam still, I thought I'd show you.
![]() Please excuse the poor quality of the reproduction including the blob from the flash of my camera. My scanner doesn't work anymore... Source: Mustangs & Unicorns, Jack H. Smith, ISBN 1-57510-029-0
__________________
Please visit my aviation art gallery @ www.aviationart.aero or view my work on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/aviationart.aero |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Bf 109 massacre of 24 March 1945 (359th FG)
I hv 4 planes total loss for that day at or around Stormede, 1+2 JG27, + 1 for 3.JG27 damage unknown,+ 2 pilots wounded by strafing aircrafts, same day in combats, no place named ,11.jg27 lost 3 more, III.JG27 6, nd 4 concerning II.JG27
JG 300 seems to hv lost 18 crafts rt |
![]() |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
![]() |
||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
FW190a-3 /A4 AGr123 in France 1943 1944. | Eric Larger | Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces | 16 | 12th June 2011 10:29 |
Übersichtsliste der Änderungsanweisungen BF 109 dated 1.7.43 | Kari Lumppio | Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces | 7 | 8th June 2010 22:35 |
Documentation of 2000HP Bf 109s of 1945 | Kurfürst | Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces | 5 | 10th September 2009 13:15 |
Awaited, 1945 Luftwaffe Fighter units evolution ? | O.Menu | Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces | 9 | 6th July 2005 14:32 |
Me 109 losses over Bocholt area 13 March 1945 | Fred | Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces | 2 | 13th February 2005 20:35 |